"Ouyang Xiu, I have read your articles,'On the Cliques',' On the World','Yuan Bi' and 'Shanggao Zhizheng Shu'. I have also read your' The Story of the Drunkard's Pavilion'. I only want to say that you are indeed old.”
Before Zhao Xu could finish his sentence, Ouyang Xiu was stunned. It was already incredible that the new emperor had read the first four books, but he had just created the Drunkard Pavilion in Chuzhou. He was still revising it on the way to the capital. How could the emperor have read it?
It was too godly!
Ouyang Xiu was confused.
Thinking back, Ouyang Xiu was also a revolutionary minister. He fully supported Fan Zhongyan in the new policies of the Qing calendar, but he was still infatuated with him despite the series of attacks from the Conservatives.
These few years, he was indeed lethargic. Ouyang Xiu was an extremely smart person. When Zhao Xu said that he was old, he immediately reflected on it.
"Although Your Majesty is young, you are knowledgeable. This old minister was rude. Please forgive me, Your Majesty!”
"I did not punish you, so there is no need to worry. I will tell you again that the country does not choose people with literary talent to be officials. They can only be scholars. The Imperial Academy does not lack people who are good at poetry, but there are too many of them. What I need is useful people.”
After Zhao Xu finished speaking, he looked at the four great writers of Great Song in front of him.
"Your Majesty is right. This old minister understands. This old minister is ashamed. I misunderstood Your Majesty's original intention and should be sentenced to death.”Ouyang Xiu wasn't muddle-headed. He knew what Zhao Xu meant. It was strictly forbidden to talk about empty talk and work hard to revitalize the country.
"I also understand Your Majesty's will. Your Majesty is far-sighted and does not stick to one pattern to select talents. He has broken through the thousand-year-old barrier of thought.”Su Dongpo bowed.
"It's good that you understand, but it's different to do it. You still need a turning point. I'm not in a hurry. I'll give you a few days to think about it. Twenty-four years ago, during the Qing New Deal, Ouyang Xiu initiated a new style of poetry.”
Zhao Xu looked at the white-haired Ouyang Xiu with interest.
Of the four literary giants present, the other three were strictly speaking Ouyang Xiu's students and old officials.
"This old subject was momentarily confused." Ouyang Xiu was once again shocked. Twenty-four years ago, the emperor in front of him had yet to be born. How did he know the whole story? One had to know that the Qing Li New Deal had long become a thing of the past. No one was interested in talking about it, and Ouyang Xiu himself did not say much.
It seemed that he had seriously underestimated the new emperor. Ouyang Xiu felt like he was being played around by Zhao Xu. The new emperor seemed to have a pair of magical eyes that could see through everyone's thoughts.
"Alright, it's not that I look down on Confucianism. I usually flip through the Confucian classics. Those things are fine for empty talk, but for governing the country, it's difficult for a strong country. I don't need a group of people with slave bones to govern the world.”
Zhao Xu's expression turned solemn.
"We obey your orders!" The four literary giants bowed and shouted together.
"Ouyang Xiu!"
"This old subject is here."
"I confer you the title of Hanlin Academy Doctor. You will be in charge of the imperial examinations and will be promoted to the second rank.”
"Old subject…thank you for your grace!" Ouyang Xiu knelt down shakily to receive the decree.
"Su Shi!"
"Your humble subject is here." Su Shi had already knelt down to receive the decree.
"I confer you the title of a direct scholar of the Dragon Pavilion and assistant minister of the Yellow Sect. You will assist Ouyang Xiu in preparing for the new imperial examinations and will be at my side after the imperial examinations are over.”
"Thank you, Lord! Long live!" Su Dongpo was overjoyed. This was the rise of officialdom.
Su Shi had his own ambitions. Being a high official was the only way to realize his ambitions. Writing books was too illusory.
"I just ordered Sima Guang to lead the anti-corruption team. I hope that you two, teacher and student, will be honest and keep fewer singers at home.”
Before he finished speaking, Ouyang Xiu and Su Shi's faces turned red. They both liked good wine and beautiful women. There were countless singers in their families. Did the emperor know about this?
"We will obey your orders."
"All of you may leave." Zhao Xu waved his hand, and the four great writers of Great Song bowed and left.
After the four literary giants left, there were only Zhao Xu and Wang Yong in the Funing Palace. Zhao Xu looked at Wang Yong, who had bowed his head. These days, Wang Yong had not rested much. From the evidence of anti-corruption, Wang Yong was also a genius in intelligence. In a short period of time, he had provided so many ironclad evidence of corrupt officials.
"Wang Yong."
"I'm here."
"How is the progress of the matter of Zhen ordering you to expand the Detective Department?”
"Your Majesty, I've already selected three hundred people from the Imperial Army, and they still need some time to adapt to the Detective Department. In the past, these people only knew how to play with guns and were not good at investigating.”
Zhao Xu nodded and replied with an " En ". Wang Yong was right, and this was indeed the case. The previous emperors did not pay much attention to intelligence, so the Detective Department had less than a hundred people. The emperor's control over the ministers was very loose.
Everything would change in the future. After making up his mind, Zhao Xu said in a deep voice,
"The office of the Detective Department is too small. If you want to expand it, you must have your own office. How about this? The large area of horse army in the east of Blessing Extending Palace will belong to you, and all those below Duyu Marquis will move out of the palace.”
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